Tractor automobile and power plant.



AFE. cook at T. VAN uYL. T TRACTOR'AUTOMOBILE ANU POWR PLANT. APPLIATION TILED SIIIT,l 6. 1912- RENEWED OCT. 16.19187.`

Patented July 1o, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l A wmmw @www uw l x n A. E. CODKL T. VAN TUYL. TRACTOR AUTOMOBILE AND POWEHNPTANT. APPucATlon man sms. 1912. niufwzo ocT. 16.719162 1,232,505. y Patented July 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.`

. types of sai UNITED STATES PATENT OFEIOE.

, mw I ALlBERT E. COOK, OF ODEBO-LT, IOWA, AND THOMAS VAN TUY`L, OF KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS; SAID VAN TUYL vASSIGNOIB. TO SAID COOK.

TRACTOR AUTOMOBILE ANI) POWER PLANT.

n Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July 1o, 1917.

Application vled September 6, 19.12, Serial No. 718,808. Renewed October 16, 191. Seria1 No. 126,036.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ALBERT E. COOK 4and THOMAS VAN TUYL, citizens of the United- States, and residents of the city-of Odebolt, county of Sac, and State of Iowa, and Kankakee, Kankakee county, Illinois, respec that the following is a. full, clear, and-exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingc'drawings, and to the numbers ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

In the very extensive introduction into use of power vehicles or automobiles of various kinds, they have assumed a 4very few well defined` types, and as a result none of such devices are ca able of quick, efficient, and readypconverti le use.. The large majority ofsuch devices are intended solely and distinctively for pleasure purposes. Another class`are .intended .and designed 4for commercial purposes, and another class are solely tractors, 1 or mere portable power mts, adapted for draftvpurposes, and, in somel instances, equipped with a fiy wheel or belt pulley whereby the power of the device maybe applied for the running of machinery. 'Owing to the large expense oi.v

devices of the class, it rarely occurs that those havin use for all three classes or devices, are able to afford three separate and distinct machines, and in consequence, the owner of any of these classes of vehicles finds the-same usually of little value. 'oru'sefor any purpose other thanv that 4for which it was distinctively designed and constructed.,

The object of this invention is to afforda convertible .automobile and power plant of the class described, adapted for l use for. pleasure purposes, and capable of beingvery quickly converted into'a powerful tractor -whereby heavy loads, Or agricultural (or Vother machines may be drawn.

4is also an object of the invention to so p @distract the device as toadmit of delivthe full eiiiciency of its power plant to t e 'driving of other machinery', without theneoessity of propellingr4 the vehicle.

The invention also has or itsobject a construction whereby the maximum power. and efficiency of the power plant of the autI mobile, may be utilized as is usual with p easlieu of the'ordinary road wheels.

ure vehicles, or may be augmented by speed reductions for traction purposes, or may be delivered direct to the operatlon of machinery to afl' J, in other words, a construction adapted for general and universal use, to the end that the maximum utility of the device may be attained through the varied uses to which the same is adapted.

' The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of an automobile, showing the same equipped as a tractori Fig. Q is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional detail of one of the rear automobile Wheels, adapted for use when the device is used as a pleasure or ordinary4 commercial vehicle. l

Fig. 3 is a detail View partly in section, and broken awa-y, of Athe rear automobile axle, showing the tractor wheels thereon in Fig. 4 is an enlarged, vertical section taken on` line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the worm gear drive and removable universal joint,

ordinaryV automobile wheels 2, shown as 4the front wheels in Fig. 1, shown as a rearwheel in Fig, 2. The rear axle, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises the alined axle sections 4, which are provided at theiradjucent 'ends with inwardly facing bevel gears 5, rigidly keyed thereon, as shown i1'iFigs. '3 and 5,

and between which is secured a spider 6, which Vrotates around the sleeve. 7, fitting therein and in which the ends of the shaft sections 4, -are rigidly secured, as shown in Fig. 3. Said' spider is provided with bevel inions 8, four in number, which constantly lntermesh said bevel gears, as shown in Figs.

3 and 5, andperiplierally engaged around said spider and bevel pinions, is a rim 9, provided with teeth affording a worm gear. As shown, a casing or sleeve 10, incluses each of the rear axle sections, said sleeves,

being connected at their inner orI adjacent ends' by means. of a differentialV casing also constructed in sections 11, and rigidl bolted together around their periphery. iach of said sleeves 10, at its outer end, has rigidly secured thereon an outwardly facing collar 12, having an outwardly tapered hub 13, and roller bearings 14 and 15, are provided in said sleeve and collar hub to permit said shaft sections 4, to freely rotate independ- 15 entlyI of said casing.

When operated as an automobile, either for' pleasure or for ordinary commercial purposes, the ordinary automobile wheel 3, is securedA on the outer-or extended end ofthe axle 4, conveniently bymeans of a key 15, i

and nut 16, in a familiar manner, and the brake drum 3, which is secured to the wheel,

projects over and receives the flange of ltheV collar 12 thereinto, as shown in Fig. 2. Such g5 wheels, however, are deficient in tractive value for pulling heavy loads. I have therefore provided a tractor wheel adapted for engagement on said axle, and to be driven t at a reduced speed thereby to augment power. Said Wheel may be of any desired size, preferably materially larger than the automobile. wheel (which it replaces) and is provided with a broad rim 17, which may `be corrugated peripherally, if referred, or

provided with any means for a ording suitable traction. 4 v V As shown, a band or ring of metal 18, is secured centrally within the tread ofsaid wheel and is provided with teeth 1.9, to afford an internal rim gear, and meshing therewith within said wheel are three gear wheels ,20, arranged equal distances apart therein, and each meshing with a pinion 21, adapted to be rigidly keyed on the extended end of said axle shaft section, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and alsovto be held in place thereon by means of vthe nut 16. Within said wheel is a collar 22, of large diameter,

provided with a hub 23, shaped'complemen- 5o tally with the hub 13, of the collar 12, and

adapted'to lit thereover and to be rigidly engaged thereto by means of a key 24, as-

shown in Fig. 3.

Secured on said colla-r 22, is a flange 25, concentric with the aide and said wheel,

and which pro'ects inwardly toward the differential. .Said gear wheels 20, are ljournaled in suitable bearings upon short shafts 26, the ends of which are secured respec- 'do tively in the rim of the collar 22, and in the rim ot' a corresponding collar 27, at the outer side of said gear wheels, the hub 28,

of which fits upon the hub ofzsaid pinion 21,

which is journaled therein, as 'shown in Fig. 3,- e

lwith the shaft 40, and having Secured at the inner side of the wheel rim i is an annular plate 29, which extends inwardly beyond the flange 25, and within which is engaged an annular flange 30, concentric with said' wheel, and between which and the flange 25, are engaged anti-friction or roller bearings 31. In a similar manner, the outer face of said wheel is covered and closed by a metallic plate 32, rigidly secured on the rim 17,. as shown in Fig. 3, and in which is secured at the center, a sleeve 33, between which and the hub 28, of the collar 27, are rollers 34, affording an anti-friction bearin l As s own, a plug or hub cap 35, isv threaded into the hub 28,*of said collar 27, and is provided with a concentric rib 36, which eX- tends into the'space between said hub 28,

and over which the brake drum slides whenthe wheel is inserted into place. The brake mechanism is Vomitted for convenience of illustration, `but any expansion brake will sufice. y

In the construction a worm gear drive is illustrated.v For this purpose, the differential casing comprising the sections 11, is extended downwardly below the worm gear to afford also a casing'for the worm 39, which meshes at. all times with the worm gearA 9, on said differential. Said worm is provided with a cylindric bore therethrough m which is jonrnaled the shaft 40, from the engine, Vand the outer' end ofY said worm is shaped to afford one member of a spur or other suitable clutch. The outer end 41, of the engine shaft 40, isangu'lar, and slidably engagedthreon is a @hitch member 42, com@ plemental with 'the clutch member afforded by the end of the worm, andV adapted when enin said sliding c utch member 42, to hold the 4 same retracted from the worm or adapted to engagrtransversely the end of'said cliltch mem to hold the same in driving engagement with the worm, as shown in-Figs. 5 and 6. As shown, said sliding clutch member is provided with an integral rearwardly directed extension ,45, in axial alinement socket therein adapted to receive the angular end 4-6, of a short shaft provided at its outer end with one member 47, of a universal an angular y joint, and ,having coupled therewith lthe other member` 48, of said universal joint, from which extends a short shaft section 49, provided with an angular socket therein to receive the angular end of the slip shaft. As shown, said universal joint sectlon may be removably engaged in the socketed shaft extension 45, of the Worm gear bymeans of a set screw 510, by salfjolint may entirely removedy when not he operation vis as follows: When necessary to inaertthe an lar end` of the .shaft 46, for the universal Joint, into the anguiar Socket in the lshaft section 45, where t 1e same may beengaged by the set screw :50. Any suitable shaft having an an lar end, may then befinserted in fthe soc eted extensiou49, at the other sideof` theunias desired `to In' this mannvo the particular machine.

gne'r, the power plant of "the automobile may for driving, orn or be utilized for pumpin l prating machinery o any kind, and Without `driving the Wheels of the automobile, or

reiirmg 'thesame to be jacked u f course, when so position by the `engagement of the.

i the shaft 40, is journaled in the worm and machine is ready for use.

shaft section 4, .through the does not drive the same. Should it be desired to utilize theautomobile as a tractor,

" `for example, for the operation-of farm or "other agricultural machinery, including plows or the like, the rear axle is elevate( and the autou'lobile wheels 3, removed, and

the hub and the tractor wheels substituted therefor. For tl' is inserted in. a seat therefor in the hub of the collar l2, and the tractor wheel is forced into place with the hub 23, of the collar 22, receiving said key 24, thereinto,and thereby rigidly engaging the hub of said collar 22, upon the hub o the collar l2, as shown in Fig. 3, at the same time the pinion 21, is forced over the key 15, in the end of the shaft, the nut 16, is secured in place, and the through the axle pinions 21, and through The drive now is applied thence with the gear Wheels 20,

the rim gear 19, enabling the full power of the power plant to be applied directly to the axle shaft sections 4, but affording a large speed reduction and'consequent augmentation of power by the use of the interior wheel drive for the tractor wheels, and permitting the directconnected drive from the engine to the axle and iili'ording maximum' efiicicncy thereby, vastly multiplying the power. 4 Should it bedesircd, the usual automobile releasing which saiduniver-V it 1s desired to utilize ther'automo- 'l bile .for driving other machinery, it is only to 'be observed driving, te clutch member 42, is retracted, and ntl-acted lever 43, in the groove 44, therein, so that` held in re--h l tractor Wheel 17 when the 11s purpose, a. suitable key' The body (a mere conventional body being transmission gear may be employed to fur ther augment the power delivered to the pinion 21, and thence to the tractor wheels. Inasmuch as the interior collar 22, is rigidly secured upon the hub 13, of the collar 12, and the outer collar 27, hub of the pinion 21, which rotates therein, itis to be observed that'v the stresses due to theinequalties of the surface and to the weight of the tractor Wheels (the latter of Which, howeverfvneed not be excessive) is carried to the axle sleeve audhousing, thus permittin a relatively light axle shaft to e used or any desired weight orsize of tractor Wheel. This also permits the drive to be delivered to the extreme periphery of the tractor wheel without exerting any other the internal gear 19, within the wheel. Itis necessitated to permit the tractor wheel to be applied in `lieu ofthe automobile wheel or vice versa, and the machine may be constructed with while it both supports and drives the ordinary automobile wheel the latter replaces the wheel 3, et said axle does not support the tractor W eel 17, the latter being carried by and rotating on parts carried byand rigid rwith the sleeve 10 and forming a separate and preferably non-rotative axle for said tractor wheel. In operation, the steering is eifectedby front wheels of the autmnobile, as usual.`

fits over the extended 3, and also drives the that no change whatever. is

either as the normal wheel,', -alld the other as'the wheel to be substituted. It will also be observed that the axle.4,'

shown in the drawings) may be of any preferred type, and adapted for the carriage of commodities or for tion may be varied. We therefore do not purpose limiting ourselves otherwise than necessitated by the prior art. i

We Aclaim as our invention: 1. An automobile embracing a rear axle,

` passengers, pleasure or otherwise, as lgireferred. It 1s to be under-- stood, of course, that details of the-construca strong non-rotative casing inclosing the 7 same `to near its outer end, a brake drum collar on said casing, tractor wheels adapted for engagementen said axle comprising a non-rotative spider adaptedto bcrigidly engaged on ythe end of said sleeve to 'Said collar,` a pinion rigidly keyed said axle, gear wheels carriedon said spider and intermeshlng said pinion,

and internal l peripheral gear teeth in the rim of the wheel also engaged by said gear wheels, and whereby the'tractor wheels are driven by themrotation of said axle axle sleeve.

and arecarried on the on the end of' 2. In an automobile a rear axle, a sleeve incasing the same to near each outer end thereof, a brake drum collar rigidly secured on said sleeve at each emlthereof, a hub thereon extending to the end of the sleeve,

a pinion rigidlv but detachably engaged on said axle beyond thel sleeve, an'outwardly directed hub thereon, a spider comprisingl an .anti-friction bearing, and differential'l mechanism connected in said axle to permit independent action of said wheels.

3. In a device of the class described the rear axle, and the indy-casing sleeve therefor extending to near each endthereof, an outwardly hubbed brake drum collar on each end of said sleeve,an outwardly lmhbed pinion adapted for rigid but detachable engagement on the extended end of the axle, a spider partly inclosng said pinion and rigidly but releasably engaged on the hub of the brake drum collar at one side the pinion and at the other affording a journal bearing for the'hnb of said pinion, gear wheels jonrnaled on said spider and meshing with said pinion, a traction wheel embracing a rim, a central internal gear in said rim meshing said gear Wheels, a concentric inwardly directed flange on the inner side of said spider intermediatey the axle and wheel rim, side plates rigidly secured to the rim, an inwardly directed central hub in each and receiving the outer spider hub and the inner spider flange therein respectively, roller bearings engaged therebetween, and

an inset brake drum engaged in the inner face of said wheel-conoentrically therewith and `adapted tn ff over the. brake drum collar.

4. The combination with ran automobile, its rear axle, and the non-rotative casing and sleeve therefor, of a tractionwheel carried wholly upon said sleeve, and having an internally geared inner periph-ery, a plu-ion `rigidly secured upon the end of the axle,

gear wheels 120" apart journaled in the plane of the wheel to mesh with said geared rim and said pinion simultaneously and rigidly held from planetary movement, and means permitting independent differential action for said wheels.

5. In a device of the class described the automobile and its rear axle and incasing sleeve, of a traction wheel adapted for quic engagement and disengagement on said axle and .embracing a. spider-rigidly4 secured on said sleeve, a pinion 'rigidly secured on the extended end of the axle, an internal gear in the wheel rim, gear wheels disposed ll()D apart and jonrnaled in the plane of the in ternal gear intermeshing said pinion and rim gear simultaneously, ymeans engaging ineasing sleeve, a plurality of speed reducing gears disposedin and meshing with said wheel, and a `pinion rigidly secured upon said axle and meshing with each of t'he speed reducing gears in the wheel.

7. The combination with a worln driven differential of means disconnecting the drive from the worm thereof, of tractor wheels adapted to be driven hysaid differential embracing an interior amfular gear secured to said tractor wheels, and a plurality of intermeshing gears all disposed within the tractor wheels in the planes thereof adapted to transmit the drive from the differential to said annular 'gear to drive the tractor wheels.

8. The combination with a worm driven differential, of means disconnecting the worm from said differential, and tractor wheels adapted to be driven by said differ ent'ial, alined axle ser-tions extending into said differential, pinions detachably con nected on the outer ends thereof, Vannular gears within said tractor wheels, and a plurality of pinions intel-meshing with said central axle pinions and said annular' gears to transmit the drive from the differential to the tractor wheels.

S). In an automobile having a rearl axle and an incasing. bearing sleeve therefor, of a quickly detachable automobile wheel adapted to bc secured upon the extended end of said axle, andan internally vgeared tractor wheel adapted to be carried wholly upon the end of the inclosing sleeve and lto be driven by said axle.

10. In an automobile, the combination with a chassis, a power plant thereon, and a rear axle driven by said power plant and adapted to carry the rear drivingwheels which are driven at the speed of theaxle, ot' traction wheels capable of performing the, work of said driving wheels when the latter are'r'emoved and supporting the rear ot the automobile with its front wheels upon .the ground, and connections between said axle. and traction wheels for transmitting power from thebne td the other, said connections` embodying a speed reducing mechanism. y

11. A tractor, embodying an automi-)bile anfl ita rear :ixlo' adapted to bey driven by said power plant. of np|lenzental rear drivlngf wheels; adapted 12o perform they Work of the,automobile rear wheels when the latter are remoreil. and connections between seid rea'i' axle and said snmnlenlental driving wheels for!transmitting 'power from the one tothe other, said connections embodying a yspeed reducing meehmiisrn,

12. Ay tractor, embodying an eutomobile rhasnis, its power plant, its front wheels, and its roar axle adapted to be driven by said power pla'nt, of `supplementalrear driving,r

wheels adapted torbe ysubstituted for the 4automol'iileroar Wheel and upon said rear axle, and connections between Said rear axle a-irl'said supplemental driving Wheels;` for transmitting power from the one tol the other, said Connections embodying a speed reducing meohaii'ism'. v

13. In an automobile, the combination njith a "chassis, a power plant` thereon, and a' rear axle driven by seid power plnt and adapted to rarry the rear driving wheelss which are driven atfthe speed of the axle, of a separate axle, traction wheelsmounted on seid separatelaxle and capable of performing the lwork of said rear driving wheels when "tirannia, its` power planl'. ith' l'ront wheels,l

thelalbrr arrrumored :1nd supporting the rear of the automobile with its front Wheel. on the ground, and eonneotions between Said rear driving axle and traction wheels for 'transmittingr power :from the one to the Aotber, said connections embodying a npeerl If reducing mechanism.

14, In an .uiton'iobiie, the eon'ibination with a chassis, a power plant thereon, and n rear nxle driven by said power plant and .adapted to rnrr); the rear :ilriving wheels:

whirh :1re driven at the speed of the axle, of

traction u'lwolfA Capable of performing the work of said driving Wheels when the latter are removed and supporting the rear of the automobile with its 4front wheeleI upon the ground, and speed rednmng gearing rhsposed Within' the periphery of said tractiony wheels and geared to said driving axle for transmitting prnrer from said axle to seid wheels.

In testimony whereonc jwe have hereunto subscribed our names in the presenti@ of two Subsri ibing,r witness( ALBERT l. COOK, THOMAS VAN TU'L.

Witnesses: I

CHARLES W. HILLS, J r., GEORGE R. MOORE. 

